A year working in Australia resulted in a Co Antrim woman meeting the love of her life.

David Hallett (29), a self-employed landscaper from Melbourne, and his wife Victoria (27), a mechanical engineer from Newtownabbey, got to know each other in 2005, when then-Queen's University student Victoria was working at a firm down under.

They fell in love and, on June 25, 2010, on a weekend break on the surfing coast of Torquay in Victoria State, David proposed.

“Dave booked a beautiful hotel suite, where he proposed with Champagne followed by a dinner,” Victoria said.

Their wedding took place on June 1, at the Holy Trinity Church in Ballylesson, followed by a reception for 120 guests at Belfast Castle, with music by The Untouchables.

A horse and carriage was organised as a surprise to take the newlyweds from the church to the Giant’s Ring at Edenderry for photographs and, instead of having a traditional guestbook, they opted for a photo-booth, which produced some brilliant images of their big day.

“Our first dance was to Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars,” Victoria added.

“The song has special importance, as this was Dave's mum Diana's favourite song. She lost her battle with cancer in September 2010.”

After the wedding the Halletts enjoyed a week-long honeymoon cruise around the Mediterranean, followed by a final week in Belfast, before returning to Australia.

The new Mrs Hallett said they are loving married life and making a home together.

“We had a wonderful wedding and are now settling back into life in Melbourne with our two dogs, Bailey and Denny the sausage dog.

“We have recently bought a house and are having fun decorating and making it our own.”

David and Victoria send their love to everyone in Northern Ireland and want to thank Canon Robert Neill and Canon Kenneth McReynolds for conducting their marriage service.

“We also want to thank The Untouchables, who kept our guests dancing all night, and to Sam and John from Still Photography NI,” Victoria said.

“And a special big thanks has to go to my parents Alexis and Tommy for organising the majority of the wedding for us.”